Parish articles archive

“Love will last forever, even though prophesies will come to an end, tongues will cease and knowledge will come to an end.” (1 Corinthians 13:8)

30 Dec 2017

The coming New Year usually leads to the thought about the short-term nature of everything earthly. But it seems to me that this time of year should remind us of what never comes to an end. When year after year passes into eternity I do not mourn the things that it takes...

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St Theophan the Recluse on the New Year

22 Dec 2017

What is renewal? When will the new heaven and new earth we hope for come? The explanation is in the Apostle’s words, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (1 Cor. 5:17).

“Happy New Year,” we greet each...

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"Let us depart in Peace"

15 Dec 2017

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, after the Communion and the Thanksgiving for the Sacraments, the priest turns towards the people and, coming out of the sanctuary, says: "Let us depart in peace." We must remember that in early days these words marked the end...

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"Holy Things are for the Holy"

08 Dec 2017

Just before the Communion of the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ, standing in the sanctuary facing the altar table, the priest raises the Holy Lamb, the Bread of the Bloodless Sacrifice, which has become the body of Christ, and says these words: "the holy...

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"Remember"

28 Nov 2017

During the Divine Liturgy, after the transubstantiation of the Sacraments, the Church asks God to "remember", to include in His Divine Memory of the world and man, "all who have died in the hope of resurrection to life eternal", "all bishops," priests, Your Holy, Catholic and...

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"Lord Have Mercy"

23 Nov 2017

"LORD HAVE MERCY." How frequently these three words are repeated in our churches and in our personal prayers. They are repeated in litanies which consist of short petitions, each of which ends with the words "Lord have mercy." At evening services and during...

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"Alleluiah"

17 Nov 2017

In the Psalms of King David we frequently find the word of praise -- "Alleluiah". Apart from the Psalms, this word appears only twice in the Bible. Once, in the Old Testament, in the prophetic vision of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Tobit it is said that...

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"Amen"

03 Nov 2017

A very minor word, "Amen", is so often repeated during our services and in our private prayers. Usually, it marks the end of prayers or important texts of religious content and it is like a seal placed on everything of particular importance. And that is exactly what it...

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"Let us Attend"

26 Oct 2017

From time to time during our church services we hear the words "LET US ATTEND!" This Is the imperative form of the verb "to attend". In ordinary language we might say "let us pay attention", "let us be attentive.' These are again 'minor words" which are often repeated...

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"Wisdom, Stand Aright"

19 Oct 2017

"WISDOM, STAND ARIGHT" (PREMUDROST', PROSTI!). We have already reflected on the word "WISDOM" which, minor though it is, is profoundly significant. During liturgy, this word is often followed by the words "STAND ARIGHT". In their basic meaning, these words are a call to, and a...

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